mancillar
/manθiˈʝaɾ/
The English verb "sully" can be translated into Spanish. The default form is mancillar. Wiktionary also lists macular and embarrar.
Meaning: to corrupt or damage (verb)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| mancillar | /manθiˈʝaɾ/ |
| macular | /makuˈlaɾ/ |
| embarrar | /embaˈraɾ/ |
| enfangar | /enfanˈɡaɾ/ |
| empañar | /empaˈɲaɾ/ |
| tiznar | /tiθˈnaɾ/ /tisˈnaɾ/ |
| desdorar | /desdoˈɾaɾ/ |
In Spanish, the choice of word for "sully" depends on whether you are describing damage to an abstract concept like honor or a physical staining with dirt.
Which one should you use?
The term mancillar is used for the abstract sullying of a reputation, honor or name. In contrast, empañar is used when something's clarity or perfection is dulled, such as empañar un recuerdo (to sully a memory) or empañar un cristal (to fog a glass). If you are referring to physical dirt, embarrar is used for physically making something messy or dirty, often with mud or sludge. Finally, tiznar specifically implies sullying or staining something with soot, ash or black residue.
How do you pronounce it?
/manθiˈʝaɾ/
Did you know?
- The verb desdorar literally means to 'remove the gold', suggesting that sullying someone's image is equivalent to stripping away a golden layer of prestige.
- The word macular, meaning to sully or stain, is the linguistic root of the English medical term 'macular' as in 'macular degeneration', which refers to a spot or blotch on the retina.
- While embarrar describes sullying with mud, the word barro for 'mud' is thought to have origins in the languages of the ancient Celtiberians and Iberians rather than purely from Latin.
Examples in context
- Es importante no ensuciar el medio ambiente.It's important not to sully the environment.
- No quiero manchar mi ropa nueva con ese jugo.I don't want to sully my new clothes with that juice.
- No quiero hacer nada que pueda deshonrar a mi familia.I don't want to do anything that could sully my family's honor.
- No vamos a enfangar nuestra relación por un malentendido.We're not going to sully our relationship over a misunderstanding.
- No quiere mancillar su reputación con mentiras.He does not want to sully his reputation with lies.
- Ese escándalo pudo mancillar la imagen de la empresa.That scandal could sully the company's image.
- Es un error que puede mancillar su legado.It is a mistake that can sully his legacy.
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are discussing a risky professional decision.
- MateoSi acepto el dinero, podría mancillar mi carrera.If I accept the money, I could sully my career.
- SofíaTienes razón, Mateo. No vale la pena el riesgo.You are right, Mateo. It is not worth the risk.
- MateoPrefiero mantener mi integridad profesional.I prefer to maintain my professional integrity.
- SofíaEs la mejor decisión para tu futuro, Sofía lo confirma.It is the best decision for your future, Sofía confirms it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sully” translations and entries mancillar, macular, embarrar, enfangar, empañar, tiznar, desdorar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries embarrar, enfangar, macular, mancillar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
